5 Tech Roles That Pay More Annually to Work Remotely

Explore five highly paid remote jobs for IT professionals in 2023.

February 23, 2023

  • While most organizations worldwide are pushing to get employees back into offices, the demand for remote jobs is expected to continue growing for the foreseeable future. 
  • Before the COVID-19 outbreak, hiring for remote jobs was a lesser-known, fringe practice restricted mainly to highly specialized roles. 
  • Currently, workplaces on a global scale have become more open for a vast range of roles.

According to a 2022 McKinsey report, approximately 58% of workers in the United States are capable of working remotely. Here we examine the most high-paying tech roles, with many paying more than $100,000 annually for remote work. The report also states that more than 85% of respondents to remote job offers are willing to accept permanent remote work environments.

See More: Top 5 Highest-Paying Certifications in 2023

Remote Tech Jobs With High Pay in 2023

Let us take a look at the tech jobs that are likely to pay highly for remote work in 2023:

1. Web developer

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), web developers are among the most in-demand careers in 2023. With a growth outlook of 23% in this decade and a median annual salary of $78,300, employers are willing to look further afield for appropriate developers for front and back-end website operations.

In a remote role, web developers can earn nearly 30% more than the average, which makes it a great opportunity for job-seekers with a couple of years of experience.

2. Software engineer

Software engineers have long been the backbone of the IT industry. These professionals receive a lot of flexibility in terms of work conditions, owing to the criticality of their roles. Most software engineers can easily earn more than $100,000 annually. The number of software engineer jobs is expected to grow by approximately 25% in the coming decade, with an average pay of $109,000.

These professionals can quickly advance from individual roles to leadership jobs while continuing to work remotely. Software engineers can also opt for project management roles with numerous organizations offering work-from-home options.

See More: Tech Layoffs: Could 2023 Signal a Turnaround for the Tech Sector?

3. Data scientist

Making massive inroads in recent years, data scientist roles have become the most rewarding and highly paid jobs, owing to the specialization of these professionals. Data scientists primarily work to create optimized workflows to process and analyze data.

Data scientist roles are expected to rise by approximately 36%, according to the BLS, through 2031. Around 30% of all data scientist roles are advertised as remote. Entry-level positions can be achieved with a bachelor’s degree (preferably in mathematics or computer science), with a data science boot camp of experience at the very least with a median salary of over $108,000.

4. Cyber security analyst

In another high-demand role, cyber security analysts are critical to handle the exponential threat of hackers, viruses, nation-state attacks and more. These jobs are projected to rise by around 23% in the coming decade.

The increase in businesses conducting operations online is generating opportunities for cybersecurity professionals. While not all companies are willing to provide cybersecurity analysts with remote roles, a few opportunities are available. On average cyber security analysts will earn more than $102,000 annually, with remote roles paying relatively higher by 16%.

5. Data analyst 

While not as highly paid as data analysts, with an annual median salary of more than $82,000, data analyst jobs are expected to grow by more than 23% as per the BLS. However, these posts have a lower barrier to entry in terms of skills and experience needed than that of a data scientist.

The widespread use of social media worldwide and the use of computers in the job means that the responsibilities of this role can be handled even in remote locations. More than 20% of data analyst jobs are currently being advertised as remote positions, which are largely being paid on the higher side than their on-premise counterparts.

See More: Retain Your Development Talent with The Power of Clean Code

Hybrid Roles Generate Interest

While remote jobs are definitely generating interest, hybrid roles are not to be dismissed out of hand. These roles have been found to pay more than remote and on-premise posts across locations. These posts, however, largely comprise higher seniority roles that require people to occasionally be at the work premises to either face clients or to take over hands-on aspects of the jobs.

According to the Society for Human Resource Management, the number of people working remotely, full-time, has been gradually plateauing, and the number of jobs with hybrid arrangements has been skyrocketing. According to the report, the overall remote-capable workforce with hybrid arrangements has risen from 32% to 49% between 2019 and 2022. The same report projects this number going up to 55% in the near future.

Key factors influencing organizations to opt for hybrid and remote work settings include commuting costs, onsite overhead costs, management of office space, reimbursement for remote workers, and the ease of attracting and retaining relevant talent in the industry. 

Considering aspects such as market rates, tax rates, cost of living, worker experience, and national averages in terms of the pay scale, remote work in the tech sector is here to stay.

Which of these careers interested you the most? Share your thoughts with us on FacebookOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , and LinkedInOpens a new window . We’d love to hear from you!

MORE ON IT CAREERS & SKILLS

Anuj Mudaliar
Anuj Mudaliar is a content development professional with a keen interest in emerging technologies, particularly advances in AI. As a tech editor for Spiceworks, Anuj covers many topics, including cloud, cybersecurity, emerging tech innovation, AI, and hardware. When not at work, he spends his time outdoors - trekking, camping, and stargazing. He is also interested in cooking and experiencing cuisine from around the world.
Take me to Community
Do you still have questions? Head over to the Spiceworks Community to find answers.